The incident occurred in Soi Paradise at about 5am on Sunday (Jan 4), where two foreign men were reported to have engaged in an indecent act in a public place, Patong Police reported.
Following online reports and the circulation of images on social media, officers from Patong Police Station launched an investigation and later identified one of the men as a 33-year-old Saudi Arabian national. The man was brought to Patong Police Station, where he was questioned by investigators at about 2am today (Jan 6).
According to police, the man admitted to committing the act. Investigators informed him of the charge of committing an indecent act in a public place likely to cause shame, under Section 388 of the Criminal Code.
The offence was resolved through a fine settlement. The man agreed to pay a B5,000 fine, received a formal warning from police, and was released.
Police noted that a second foreign man was involved in the incident, but his identity has not yet been confirmed.
Patong Police confirmed that they will coordinate with the Tourist Police and the Immigration Bureau to take any further action within their respective authority.
The arrest followed a Facebook post shared widely yesterday showing the men ignoring requests from local residents to move to private accommodation. The behaviour was criticised as disrespectful and damaging to the image of Phuket as a “world-class tourist destination”.
Social media users expressed concern that such incidents reflect poorly on the island, with many calling for stricter enforcement of public order laws and more decisive action against inappropriate behaviour by visitors.
Police have repeatedly reminded visitors that public indecency and disorderly conduct are criminal offences in Thailand and warned that offenders may face fines, detention or further legal consequences.
Authorities urged both tourists and residents to report inappropriate or unlawful behaviour to local police so action can be taken promptly.